Horsewoman Book 1: Best Of Equitation

Chapter 3

"And the winner is.... Cristal with her superb pulling horse, Freedom!" Cheers came up from the crowd of Danni, Ella, Troy, and Dad. Mom had just announced the winner of the cart race. I stepped up to receive my prize-a king-size Butterfinger candy bar.***********************************************************************************************************

"15.47!" "Ugh, we can do better than that, can't we, Map?" I patted Map's chestnut neck, glistening with sweat. "Let's go one more run," I yelled to Troy, who was timing me. He gave me a thumbs up. I trotted Map toward the cloverleaf pattern of red barrels. "Three, two, one, start!" Map launched forward in a swift gallop. First barrel. Second barrel. She circled the third barrel in ease and crossed the finish line. I slowed her to a trot. "Whoa, girl," I said, stroking her soft mane. I looked at Troy for the results. "13.97! You're gonna crush the competition, Cris!" He exclaimed. "Yes!" I yelled, punching the air. I let myself free-fall off the Western saddle into a soft pile of raked leaves. "We did it, Map."

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"Pole bending, halter, carriage, pony dressage, and beginner jumping course!" Ella was rattling off the events she was entering. "Nice, Ella! Do you want me to teach you how to jump, or not?" I asked, laughing. She bounced up and down and squealed. "Okay, I'll show you how to tack up first, if you settle down," I added. She stopped jumping and put a solemn look on her face. "Come help me with the tack." We jogged into the tack room, filled with twenty-six English saddles, 57 bits, 26 halters, 30 saddle pads, 50 rugs, 30 Western saddles, 25 sets of boots, and over 10 grooming kits. I grabbed Melody's bridle, a basic snaffle, a dark blue saddle pad, a matching blue jumping saddle, and a dark leather girth. I set it in the tack cart, a rolling cart we use to transport tack. I also took Cocoa's tack off the wall. Cocoa was Opal's dam. She died just last year, but we kept her tack for Opal. I wheeled the cart out and beckoned Ella over, who was analyzing the different types of bits. We have snaffles, rubber bars, curb chain snaffles, and double rein bits. She skipped happily over to me. "Ok, first we saddle them," I said. I set the saddle pad just below the withers. Then I laid the saddle gently onto the pad. I glanced at Ella. She did the same, just lower on the back. I adjusted it and said, "Good job, Ella!" Then I buckled the girth, tested it, and tightened it one more notch. "Alright, that's the saddle. Let's bridle them now." I looped the reins around Melody's long neck. She willingly took the bit. "Good girl," I mumbled, slipping the headstall over her ears. "Alright, we're ready to go!" I exclaimed after fixing Opal's bridle. "Let's jump!"